This Thursday, 30 of the country’s brightest student talents will line up on Twickenham turf in two contrasting shades. In light blue, Cambridge will bring a wealth of experience with seventy four time Welsh international Jamie Roberts starting in the centre, as they look to topple Oxford’s record breaking five wins on the trot. Facing them, and donning the darker shade, Oxford have had to cope with the loss of team favourite and club captain George Messum, but will be seeking to cement their names in the record books with a sixth consecutive win, and draw the all time results even closer — Cambridge currently lead with 61 games to 58, with 14 of the ties ending in a draw.
But who’s who in this, the 134th Battle of the Blues?
OURFC – Oxford University Rugby Football Club
15 Matt Geiger
St Catherine’s Geographer Matt starts out of his usual scrum-half position at full black for the dark blues. Despite being only 20 years old, the 5’9, 11st 5 dynamo will gain his first Blue this week, having previously represented England U16 and been a part of the Sale Sharks Academy. He has big boots to fill, taking over the 15 shirt from former Oxford captain ‘Jaycum’ Jacob Taylor.
14 Henry Hughes
Henry, a Magdalen College 4th year clinical medic, is more comfortable in the outside centre position, but starts on the wing for this year’s Varsity. With two previous Blues to his name, thanks to his bench selection in 2012 and start in 2013, Hughes returns for this year following a long period of injury due to knee dislocation.
13 Matt Janney
Famed for dating Harry Potter actress Emma Watson, Matt Janney easily holds his own name in the rugby world. A Russian student at Oriel College, Matt gains his fourth Blue this week. He has previously won international honours with the Georgian Sevens team.
12 Henry Lamont
Lamont will lead the dark blues out at Twickenham in the absence of OURFC captain and outside flanker George Messum, who was last week ruled ineligible to play according to the Oxford and Cambridge Joint Blues Committee criteria. In the process, Lamont will pick up his fourth Blue, having debuted at Twickenham at the age of 18. The New College Chemist, who is known to his teammates as Lamo, has scintillating pace from the centre, despite being only 5’8, and scored a memorable try in the 2013 Victory.
11 Tom Stileman
St Peter’s College Earth Scientist Tom is only a tender 19 years old, and earns his first Blue in Thursday’s clash. The son of fellow Oxford Blue Will Stileman, who is one of only a few players to appear for both Universities, will look to build on an impressive start to the season with OURFC.
10 George Cullen
Seasoned Oxford Fly Half George Cullen is a Masters Student in Sustainable Urban Development at Kellogg College. With his undergrad years spent at Newcastle, George has plentiful rugby experience, including appearances for Ireland U18s, Newcastle University and England Students. He captained the Blues during a victorious preseason tour to Russia in 2014, and is an integral part of the squad, scoring a try in Oxford’s victory last year, as well as adding 13 points from the boot.
9 Henry de Berker
This year de Berker is promoted from the bench as he makes his first Varsity start, having come on late in last year’s victory. The 22 year old is a medic of Green Templeton College, with a graceful box kick and elegant sweep pass in his repertoire at Scrum Half.
1 Lewis Anderson
Lewis will set a new Varsity record as he gains his sixth Blue in Thursday’s clash, having won all five of his past appearances. The 25 year old is currently studying for a Masters in Sociology as Trinity College, and is somewhat of an Oxford hero and legend of the famous clash.
2 Richie Halpin
Lady Margaret Hall student Richie is a masters student in Law and Finance, having previously attended Trinity College, Dublin. He makes his debut on Thursday, when he will earn his first Blue.
3 Ian Williams
Williams lines up for yet another Blue on Thursday, and is already famed for his scrummaging performance in the 2013 Varsity when he forced the early substitution of his opposing number — the Cambridge captain. Ian also has Welsh Students caps to his name, and spent some time with Premiership side London Welsh, before taking up his current position as a Masters student at Kellogg College.
4 Fergus Taylor
Traditional back row Fergus has slid down the numbers in his two years at Oxford to his current position in the second row. The 6’2, 18st 6 Masters Student at St Catherine’s College has formerly captained UCL Rugby, and lines up for his second Varsity, having played in last year’s 43 – 6 Victory.
5 Andrew Grant
Kellogg student Andrew hails from Surrey University and studies Sustainable Urban Development. He too, makes his first start for Oxford in the 2015 Match.
6 Nic Roberts-Huntley
Nic is a Green Templeton Masters student, who has joined Oxford from Cardiff University to make his debut at Flanker for the dark blues. He has played in a different shade — for the Cardiff Blues Under 20s team — before academic commitments took over. A good friend of Jamie Roberts, he will look forwards to starting in opposite colours to his former University colleague.
7 Will Wilson
First year Will studies History at Keble College. He is yet another of Oxford’s players new to the Varsity Squad, having captained Wellington College during his final year there, and is the only fresher on either side. He usually plays at Number Eight, but shifts into the flanker role for this fixture.
8 Fraser Heathcote
Normally seen at blindside flanker, Fraser gains his third Blue in the Number 8 shirt. He came off the bench in the 2013 fixture, and started the 2014 match, despite injury sidelining him for most of the Winter period. The 6’1, 15st 6 Engineer studies at St Edmund’s Hall.
CURUFC – Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club
15 Simon Davies
21 year old Simon Davies is a chemical engineer at Jesus College and a newcomer to the Varsity match. He is one of six to gain his first Blue for Cambridge in Thursday’s clash.
14 Ilia Cherezov
Winger Ilia is a 26 year old Chemical Engineer from St John’s College. He adds size to the team at 6’2 and 14st 13, and earns his fourth Blue, starting in 2012, coming off the bench in 2013 and once again taking the 14 shirt in last year’s fixture.
13 Ollie Clough
St Edmund’s MPhil student Ollie starts in the centre for his first Varsity Match. A former student at Imperial, he both coaches and plays with Ultimate Rugby 7s.
12 Jamie Roberts
The only international to start in this year’s fixture, and the first active international since Australian lock Dan Vickerman captained Cambridge in 2009, Harlequins centre Jamie Roberts needs little introduction. Currently studying for a MPhil in Medical Science (Surgery) at Queen’s College, Jamie will earn his first Blue on Thursday. He can add this to his glittering career, which also boasts an Anglo-Welsh title with Cardiff Blues, seventy four Welsh Caps including a Triple Crown, a win against the All Blacks with the Barbarians, and three British and Irish Lions caps. However, speaking to Wales Online, he seems just as excited about this new experience — “I’m immensely proud and honoured to be awarded a Blue and everything has come together for me… To win a Blue for Cambridge in a rugby context is a great honour and something I will cherish on my CV.”
11 Andy Rees
21 year old Andy is an Economist at St Catharine’s College and alumnus of St Paul’s School. He looks to gain his second Blue, having been picked amongst the replacements in last year’s match.
10 Fraser Gillies
Gillies moves to fly half, having formerly won a Blue from the wing, as captain Don Stevens shuffles down the numbers to the Scrum Half role. At the age of 17, Gillies spent a season living in Paris and playing for Racing Metro 92. He is currently studying for an MPhil in Management at Hughes Hall.
9 Don Stevens
28 year old Don captains Cambridge from the Number 9 position. A DPhil candidate in Land Economy at St Edmund’s, Steven’s earns his third Blue this year, having featured at No 10 in the last two Varsity Matches. However, he will hope to last longer than his previous two performances, with injury to his shoulder and knee respectively meaning that he only has a collective 72 minutes in the Cambridge jersey from both fixtures.
1 Will Briggs
Magdalene College student Briggs is a 25 year old, 18st Prop, who adds a tonne of experience to this Cambridge side. The 2013 Captain plays in his fifth Varsity Match, having come off the bench in 2011, and started each year since then.
2 Max Montgomery
Hooker Max is a 20 year old law student from Emmanuel college. He starts for the first time, having been selected amongst the replacements last year, and will earn his second Blue on Thursday.
3 Dave Spelman
Another newcomer to the squad, Dave is a MPhil Polar Studies Student at Jesus College. An alumnus of Durham — where he captained DURFC in 2013/14 — and Tonbridge School, he has also been capped internationally with England Students.
4 Rob Hall
Downing College student Rob stands at 6’3 in the Lock position for CURUFC. The Vet Student earned his first Blue in last year’s match.
5 Ian Nagle
Another senior of the Cambridge squad, Nagle brings a wealth of experience to the light blues. The 27 Year Old MBA Student attends Hughes Hall, has 27 Munster caps to his name, and enjoyed a brief period with Newcastle Falcons in 2014. He has honours with Ireland U20s, Ireland Wolfhounds and Emerging Ireland, and although halting his rugby career at 25 as he developed a love for Management, he has not ruled out a return after his studies are complete.
6 James Kilroe (Robinson)
The 24 year old Lock studies Technology Policy at Robinson College. The South African Flanker hails from the University of Cape Town, and has played for Western Province under 21s and the World University Barbarians Team.
7 Daniel Dass
Daniel Dass is known to his teammates as Dassy, and is a 20 year old Economics Student at St Catharines College. He gets his first start in this year’s Varsity, having won a Blue from the bench in 2014.
8 Sam Farmer
Wolfson English student Farmer usually plays at Blind Flanker, but wears the Number 8 shirt for this year’s Varsity. A former member of the Northampton Saints Academy, Farmer plays in his third Varsity match.
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